5 Things You THINK You Need in Disney World, But Actually Don't!

Some of us tend to over-plan when it comes to Disney World trips.

Cinderella Castle

There’s just so much to consider, like dining reservations, Genie+, preparing for the weather, and more! Through our own over-planning, the All Ears Team has been able to pinpoint what we didn’t need for a successful Disney World trip — and we’re sharing those things with you!

Before we break down what we didn’t need for our own trips, we wanted to provide the disclaimer that this won’t pertain to everyone! What works for us, might not work for others! These are just the things we’ve found to be unnecessary for our own trips! So, without further delay, keep reading to see our list!

A Minute-by-Minute Itinerary

We’re fans of having a general plan for the day. It helps keep us on track so we can do everything we want. Figure out your must-dos and must-eats, and try to get those done!

We always plan for a churro

But we recommend avoiding minute-by-minute planning! It causes unnecessary stress and doesn’t allow for any fluidity in your day. Having a general plan is better, as it ensures you get what you want done, while also letting you wander around the parks and be a bit spontaneous (which is part of the magic)!

See How Genie Can Help You Make a General Plan!

“Cute” Outfits For Every Single Day

We totally understand the urge to wear your best outfits inside the parks. Dapper Day is one of our favorite themed days for just that reason! But in Florida weather, and with touring the parks counting as some serious exercise (at least in our book), clothing like dresses or shoes made more for looks than for walking can make your day way more uncomfortable than it has to be.

This doesn’t apply to Minnie, of course

If you still want to dress cute, we recommend dressing up for one day out of your trip, or even part of the day (and bring clothes to change into)! Most Disney guests find it’s hard to last the entire day in the parks if you’re not dressing for comfort. (Trust us, we’ve tried!)

Check Out Disney World’s Holiday Dapper Day Event!

Dining Reservations for Every Meal

While we love a good table service experience, these reservations aren’t needed for every single meal. It’s a lot of food, and requires you to stick to a strict schedule for the day. Having 2 to 3 dining reservations per day means you’ll have to interrupt your day several times to show up to a reservation. Table service meals also take up a ton of time — time that could be spent on other things like rides and shows!

Be Our Guest main dining room

We like having one reservation a day on our trips! It allows for us to eat at quick-service locations (which we also love), have more time to spend on other activities, and also have a table service experience!

We Ranked All the Table Service Locations in Disney World — Click Here!

PhotoPass Memory Maker

This option, which costs $69 per day, provides you with digital downloads of your Disney PhotoPass/attraction photos and videos, and magic shots. If you’re wanting to take a nice family photo at the parks, then this may be a good option for you! But we haven’t found it to be needed on our trips.

This magic shot was an exception

We usually just have our park pictures taken with our phone, or we buy an individual PhotoPass photo!

Learn More About Disney World’s PhotoPass!

Genie+ in Disney’s Animal Kingdom and EPCOT

We know this one may be a little controversial…but we don’t believe the price of Genie+ is justified for Animal Kingdom or EPCOT! Hear us out! First off, there’s a smaller amount of Genie+ rides in Animal Kingdom/EPCOT when compared to Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Frozen Ever After

Also, the more popular attractions in those parks (currently Remy’s Ratatouille and Avatar Flight of Passage) are Individual Attraction Selections, which are a separate fee from Genie+. We just find it to make more sense to wait in line for the attractions in those parks!

Has Genie+ Ruined Disney World?

Those were the 5 things we don’t think are necessary to have a successful trip in Disney World! Again, this is just based on our own experiences! As always, check back with us at All Ears for the latest Disney news!